Tack packaging



7, 1956 J. J. REILLY 2,758,301

TACK PACKAGING Filed Sept. 8, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @(DGQOOOCDC) @CDGGGGOGC) SCDCDGCDOQGQQ [I INVENTOR {I a James J E653 Z9 o I o a m 9 Q ATTORNEYS J. J. REILLY TACK PACKAGING Aug. 7, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1954 WMM ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1956 J, REILLY 2,758,301

TACK PACKAGING Filed Sept. 8, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR \D James J. EeZZZy BY WOMZ M K ATTORNEYS United States Patent F TACK PACKAGING James J. Reilly, Derby, Conn assignor to The Waterbury Tack Company, Inc., Shelton, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 8, 1954, Serial No. 454,710

20 Claims. (Cl. 1-1) This invention relates to packaging of tacks, as for instance thumb tacks and other elongated pointed articles, for the purpose of distribution and sale, and relates more particularly to improved methods and apparatus for assembling a determinate number of such articles on boards in prearranged positions, to form packages.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated herein. This illustrated embodiment is one specie of my invention, another form of which is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 348,084, filed April 10, 1953.

It will be understood that the term thumb tack is used herein to indicate an entire class of elongated, pointed, headed articles.

Heretofore it was the practice to place an indefinite number of thumb tacks on a plate having spaced cavities in its upper side to receive the heads of the tacks. The plate was then shaken by hand until the cavities were all filled with tacks having their points up. The plate was thereafter tilted to permit the excess tacks to slide off. Then a small board, such as binders board, was held by hand over the points of the tacks, and when in that position was struck with a mallet to drive the board down onto the points. The board with the impaled tacks was then removed from the plate, wrapped and stored for shipment. These operations had to be performed with considerable skill and care, and required much practice and experience before they could be performed at economical speeds to produce a sufficiently-uniform, commercially-acceptable package. Care had to be exercised that the blow delivered by the mallet to the board was just that necessary to drive the tacks sufiiciently into the board so that the heads would not be flush with the surface of the board making the tacks diflicult to remove, and so that the points of the tacks would not project through to the other side of the board.

In my said prior application, provision was made for automatically arraying the tacks in groups of rows and While in arrayed position automatically pressing a tack board against the points of the tacks and then discharging the assembled tacks and board so that they could be wrapped for shipment. To increase the speed of production and thus reduce the cost of manufacture, as in my prior application, a plurality of groups of tacks are assembled on a plurality of boards in one operation. However, the present invention, and the embodiment thereof disclosed herein, distinguishes from the embodiment of my invention disclosed in my said prior application in the manner in which the groups of tacks are arrayed and assembled on their boardsthe tacks being loaded by hand operations on tack-carrying plates provided with nests to receive the heads of the tacks, and the boards being carried successively on a conveyer to a press where they are assembled on tack boards inserted between the bed and ram members of the press in position to be pressed against the points of the tacks so that the tacks are caused to penetrate the board a determinate distance and be removably anchored thereon.

2,758,301 patented Aug. 7, 1956 Thus, in the form of the present invention herein disclosed, the necessity of providing expensive mechanism to array the tacks automatically is avoided, making the present methods and apparatus practicable in situations not justifying the larger capital investment.

According to the present invention, the operator dips the nest-carrying plate into a supply of tacks to collect a quantity on the surface of the plate, then shakes the plate to cause the tacks to settle with their heads in the nests, and to permit the remainder to slide off the plate. The plate is then carried to the press, preferably by being placed on a conveyor belt. Depending on the number of operators employed along the belt, the belt is kept more or less full of tack-carrying plates which proceed edge-to-edge toward the press. Each carrying plate may have sutficient nests for a plurality of groups of tacks. When the press is open, a plurality of boards is inserted between the bed and ram members of the press and this may be done by hand or, preferably, by automatic mechanism leading the boards into position from stacks, but in any event the tack boards are positioned to overlie the points of the tacks so that when the ram is brought down the points of the tacks will be forced into the boards. When the press is opened, the plate carrying the assembled tacks and boards is removed from the press and the next succeeding plate is moved into assembling position.

According to the present invention, the tack-carrying plates may be pushed by hand along the conveyor and into the press but, preferably, the conveyor is operated by power and the tack-carrying plates are pushed into position in the press by the succeeding plates on the conveyor and arrested by stops which hold the inserted plate, and also the succeeding plates, against advancement until the press has operated and assembled the tacks and boards between its members.

The stops for the plate in the press may be retracted by hand after the press is opened, but, preferably, the opening movement of the press controls the retraction of the stops and the next plate advances to position in the press. Preferably, means are provided for automatically making the stops again effective to arrest the next plate in assembling position.

In practicing the methods of the present invention, all or some of the steps, except the initial loading of the pin-carrying plates, may be performed or controlled manually, but, as hereinafter pointed out, it is advantageous in the interest of speed and economy to have the operations automatically performed in determinate sequence.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved, tack-packaging apparatus made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of a thumb-tack p'ackage as produced by the invention.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the package shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View of a. tackcarrying plate made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of the tack-assembling press portion of the apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a detail partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, the section being taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a portion of a plate positioning device disposed adjacent the right end of the lower belt conveyor shown in Fig. 1.

section, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a view partly in elevationand partly invertical section, taken on line 9.9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 101il of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1l11 of Fig. 10.

- Referringto Figs-Zand 3, there ;is shown a;thumb-tack package assembled byithe apparatus and :method of the invention. The package Zil comprises a stiff-board 21, which may bea rectangularpiece of .corrugatedcardboard, the board 21 being .impalerlgon the shanks of a plurality of ,thumb tacks 22 arranged in ;uniformlyespaced rows :and columns.

As shown in-Figs. 4 and 8,1thelthnmb tacksZZpriortto being assembled to the. board,,-21 are carried in nests 23 formed in elongate carrying plates .24. .Each plate 24 is roughly in the shape of awrectangle, having elongate parallel side edges 25, parallel end edges 25, and .cutout corner portions 27. Each plate 24 has-,a plurality of spaced groups of nests 23, thegroups being disposed in vertical columns of two, as viewed in Fig. 8, .and horizontal rows of five.

It has been common practice heretofore to. deposit thumb tacks with their points upward in a single group of nests of a carrying plate by the procedure of. placing a large number of tacks on the plate andshaking the latter back and forth. If the recesses or nests are formed substantially as shown in Fig. 4, the thumb tackswill readily, quickly become positioned .therein,,-.and .all the nests will be filled due to the excessive supplyon the plate. After each nest is filled with a tack, the-remaining tacks .are discarded from theplate by simply tilting the latter slightly, preferably while giving ita gentle :back and-forth movement.

In accordance with the present invention, .1 make the plates 24 of a light-weight material such asplastioand provide them with an appreciable number ofgroups of nests. arranged both in columns and rows, .as shown in Fig. 8. I have found that such a plate 124,cven.though quite large and having quite a few groups of nests, may be readily provided with an array of thumb tacks ,filling all of the nests thereof, by the same general procedure mentioned above in connection with a-relatively small plate having but a single group of nests. The ,method and apparatus of the invention thus embrace :the provision and use of the large, light-weightplates 24 having the large number of groups of'nests, arranged in'both columns and rows,'as shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. l, the apparatus of-theuinvention comprises a long table or stand 28 supported by uprights 29, said table having a plurality of trays 30. disposed along its opposite sides. In Fig. I, only the-trays 30 which are nearest to the viewer are shown; however, it should be understood that additional trays 30 are disposed on the far side of the stand 28, to the rear of and aligned with the trays 30 which are shown.

The table 28 is provided with a power-driven conveyor 31, comprising a continuous :belt 32 passing over head and tail pulleys 33 and 34 respectively.

For manning the table .28 operators are.disposed in front of all of the trays 30, and are provided WIllIh the plates 24. The trays 3t) carry loose thumb tacks, and the operators scoop the thumb tacks ontothe plates-and then manipulate the latter, as above described, to fill the nests of the plates with the tacks as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The operators then place the plates. longitudinally on the top portion of the conveyor belt 32 between suitable guides, the'plates being thereby travelled in a straight line from left to right as viewed in Fig. 1.

At-the right portion of 'Fig. 1 a press 35 is shown, by whichthe-boards 21 are automatically assembled tothe thumb tacks 22 carried on the plates 24." The-plates 24 and assembled tacks and boards are dischargedfrom the 'press 35 onto a table 36, where anoperator dumps the assemblies from -the-plates,--and returns the -latter to its left-IOHrighttravel.

..the operators .at,..the trays 30. To vaccomplish.such-return conveniently, a second powered conveyor 37 is provided, comprising a belt 38 passing over pulleys 39 and 40, the conveyor 37 carrying the empty plates 24 from right to left as viewed in Fig. 1, back to the operators at the trays 30 who are assigned to the task of loading the plates.

For the purpose of maintaining the loaded, tackcarrying plates 24 flat on the belt 32,.spring-urged rollers 41 are provided, carried by,a frame 42.sccure.d to the table 28, said rollers engaging the centerportions-Afi of the plates, Fig. 8.

At the terminal end of the conveyor.31, a=platform or table 44 is provided, Figs. ,1 and 5, joined to the bed 45 of the press 35. The table 44 and bed 45 are provided with guides 46, Figs. 5 and 8, by which the plates 24 are maintained in alignment and brought into the press. Another set of rollers 47 is also provided, niounted on a frame 48secured tothe table. 44, said-rollers being engageable withthe center portions :with the plates 24 to keep-the latter flat and in position between the guides- 46.

.'Byvirtue .of the conveyor belt 32 being keptcontinuously moving, the plates 24 whichare of lightweight, are'made'to travel across'the table 44 and bed 45 of the press under the urging of the following plates on the belt, without the necessity for additional motivation. Actually only two of the .plates 24, those occupying the table 44 and bed 45, are at any time not on the conveyor belt 32,. and accordingly-the much larger number of plates-which are being carried by the'belt, together with the greater friction between the belt and the :plates, is sufiicient to effect a left-to-rightytravel of the two 'foremostplates. across. the table 44 and bed 45.

In accordance 'with'the method of the invention, the plates 24 areprovided withthetacks 22 by: the operators at the trays '30, and arethen travelled by the zconveyor 31 inaline extending to the :press 35. Aunumber of'thc boards. 21 are arranged broadside to theforemost tackcarrying :iplate,y,and the boards and :plate are brought together to .causeythe boards to be impaled .a predetermined distance on the shanks of thetacks, as tshown in Fig. 3. The plate and;assembly oftacks .andboardsare thereafter dischargedfromthe press -and:the assemblies moved from ,the plates, .the latter :being thereuponreturned for use over again.

Assembly of the tacks 22 toatheboards 2.1 isxautomatically accomplished at the press .35 by a novel apparatus andimethod. Referring to;-Eig. 8, the-foremost plate 24 which .is restingon the bed 45 ofthepress has been halted in its left-,to:right:move ment by means made operable by ithe, plates ,24 .and :cOm-prisiug :advanceable and retractablestopgpins 59 passing through the. bed 4-5 and actuated by suitable; air ,pistons;,and cylin ders :51. Control of the :pistons and :cylinders 5.1 iseffected as follows:

One edge 25;'(the1upper one ,asviewed in Fig.8), of the plate 24disposed ,onithebed 45-is :shown asengaging an, actuating .arm ,52 for amomentary :eontact zelectric sWitchl53. ,TherswitchfiB is normally.open;for:the.durationof .such-engagement,-but .was:previously momentarily closed'by counterclockwise.actuation .of ;the arm '52 by the: plate '24 as the latter approached .the-vicinity of-zthe .stoppinsfitl. Momentary closing of -;thc :switch .53 "is made 'to raise :the =pins50by suitable .solenoid alves not.:shown, .whereby the pins function as abutments .engageableiwith the leading cutout corners-27 of:the::tackcarryingyplate. ;Thus-the leading-plate '24 is halted in A second 5 switch arm 54 1 is provided, ..engageable: with the opposite side 25 :(thevlower one 'asfviewed in :Fig. :8) ofthe plate ,2l,- -said;arm', in swinging clockwise, closing an.ele.ctric:switch;-55 .which isconnected inseries with an electric switch56 whose actuation will be. describedshortly.

The switches 55 and 5-6 control'=the :movement -of a ram 57 mounted in-the press '35yflai'd ram being-powered by a hydraulic cylinder 58 having a connecting rod 59. Whenever the switches 55 and 56 are both closed, the cylinder 58 is operated to lower the ram 57. For the purpose of raising the ram a switch 60 is provided, actuated by an arm 61 on the ram 57 when the latter reaches the lower end of its stroke. Thus, whenever the ram 57 is advanced downward it will be automatically retracted or raised by actuation of the switch 60.

The ram 57 is disposed above the foremost tack-carrying plate 24 on the bed 45, and has on its undersurface a plurality of friction retainer strips 62 provided with spring-urged portions 63, said strips and portions constituting friction carriers and forming between them recesses 64 adapted to receive and hold the boards 21.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 9, magazines 65 are provided on opposite sides of the ram 57, said magazines being adapted to hold the boards 21 in stacks or piles. Transfer means are provided, comprising advanceable and retractable transfer members 66 actuated by hydraulic cylinders 67, for the purpose of shifting the bottom boards 21 of the piles into the recesses 64 provided by the friction carrier strips 62 and 63 of the ram. As shown, the transfer members 66 have their foremost ends recessed or cut away to accommodate the boards 21. The transfer members 66, Fig. 9, upon being advanced toward the ram 57 will transfer the lowermost boards 21 from the magazines 65 to the ram, and upon the members 66 being retracted, the boards 21 will be re tained on the underside of the ram 57.

Advance of the transfer members 66 is elfected by closing of an electric switch 68 actuated by the arm 61 of the ram 57 when the latter attains its raised position as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. Upon the transfer members 66 being advanced and transferring the boards 21 to the ram, an electric switch 69 will be actuated by an arm 70 of the transfer means, to reverse the action of the cylinder 67 and retract the members 66. The arm 70 also engages and closes the electric switch 56 when the transfer means is retracted. Whenever the transfer members are out of retracted positions the switch 56 will be open, and since this switch is in series with the switch 55 there will be prevented downward movement of the ram 57. Thus, while the members 66 are projectable into the path of the ram 57, they will never be seized or engaged thereby because of the safety control exercised over the ram by the switch 56.

After boards 21 have been transferred to the undersurface of the ram 57 the latter, in descending, will impale the boards onto the upturned points of the tacks carried by the plate 24. Prior to the ram 57 completing its retracting or ascending movement, stripper means comprising pins 71 carried on a stripper plate 72 are made operative by quick-acting air cylinders 73 to strip the boards 21 from the friction carriers of the ram. The stripper cylinders 73 are controlled to project the pins 71 downward by the electric switch 60 which is actuated by the ram 57 at the end of its downward movement. Return of the stripper pins to their raised positions is effected by feeding air oppositely to the cylinders 73 through the actuation of an electric switch 60a by raising of the ram, the switch 60a controlling a suitable solenoid valve (not shown).

After assembly of the boards 21 to the tacks 22 carried in the plate 24, the latter with the assemblies is ejected from the press 35 by lowering of the abutment pins 50. This lowering movement of the pins is effected by actuation of an electric switch 74, Figs. 5 and 6, in response to raising of the ram 57, such lowering being possible due to the momentary contact characteristic of the switch 53 which effected raising of the pins. As seen in Fig. 6, the arm 75 is carried by the ram 57 and has a unidirectionally acting finger 76 engageable with a springurged plunger 77 which in turn actuates the switch 74. Raising of the ram momentarily closes the switch 74 near the end of the raising movement, the switch being again quickly opened because of the camming and bypass action of the finger 76 on the rod 77.

As soon as the abutment pins 50 are retracted, the action of the continuously moving belt 32 will advance all the plates 24 from left to right, and upon the switchactuating arm- 52 entering the space provided by the notched corners of the foremost and second plates and being thereafter swung counterclockwise by engaging the edge of the following plate 24, the pins 50 will again be advanced to constitute stops or abutments.

In order to provide forpositive positioning of the plates 24 against the abutment pins 50, a pusher mechanism 78 is provided, Figs. 1 and 7, said mechanism comprising a cylinder 79 and piston rod 80, the latter having depending arms 81 provided with pivoted fingers 82 engageable with the trailing notched corners of the plate 24 which is entering the press. The pusher 78 is made operative when the switch 55 is closed by the plate 24, and functions to force the plate tightly against the stop pins. The finger 82 is normally spring-urged by a leaf spring 83 during its pushing function, to enable a slight amount of leeway to be had in the dimensions of the plates.

The sequence of operations of the apparatus is briefly as follows:

After the plates 24 have been filled with tacks by the operators and placed on the conveyor 31, they travel in a line to the press 35. The foremost plate 24 is halted by the stop pins 50 and actuates the switch 55. This brings down the ram 57 and also actuates the pusher mechanism 78 to force the plate 24 tightly against the pins 50. As the ram 57 descends, it forces the boards 21 which it carries onto the shanks of the tacks 20 carried by the plate 24. The ram 57, in descending, actuates the switch 60. This returns the ram to its raised position and simultaneously actuates the stripper pins 71 to strip the boards 21 from the ram. Upon the ram reaching its uppermost position, it closes the switch 68, causing the transfer members 66 to advance and place a new set of boards 21 in the friction carriers on the underside of the ram. Advance of the transfer members 66 will actuate the switch 69, which then returns the transfer members to retracted position. The raising of the ram 57 also actuates the switch 74 which retracts the stop pins 50, enabling the loaded plate 24 to pass out of the press 35. Upon the foremost plate 24 leaving the press and the next plate 24 passing into the press, the switch actuator 52 will enter the space provided by the cut-out corner portions 27 of the plates 24 and then be swung counterclockwise when it is engaged by the next plate, thereby again raising the pins 50 and halting the second, tack-loaded plate. This second plate will again actuate the switch 55, and the above cycle will be automatically repeated.

It will be observed that the method of the invention embraces locating a plurality of boards broadside to groups of tacks placed in a predetermined array, in both rows and columns, thereafter bringing together the boards and the tacks and causing the boards to be impaled and assembled to the tacks simultaneously and in a single operation. The method also embraces positioning the boards between the ram and bed members of the press and placing a tack-carrying plate between one of the press members and the boards with the points of the tacks facing the boards, and thereafter bringing toward each other the press members, to press the points of the tacks into the boards, the assembled tacks and boards being thereafter discharged from the plates.

The method and apparatus of the invention are relatively simple, foolproof, and capable of volume production. The components of the apparatus are compactly arranged and yet accessible for adjustment or servicing, and by the practice of the invention a very appreciable saving of labor may be effected.

Variations and modifications may be made within the 7 scope of the claims andportions of the improvements maybe used without others.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for continuously packaging tacks comprising a conveyer for receiving a succession of carrying plates each having loaded thereon a plurality of tacks placed with their points outward in groups of rows, said conveyer advancing :said-plates in line and in end-to-end engagement; a press having ram and bed members to which said conveyer leads; means advancing the plate nearest to the pressinto position between the ram and bed members of the press; and means moving a board into position between the ram and bedmembers of the press with the board facing the points of the tacks on said carrying platewherebyclosing operation of the press to bring the members thereof together forces the points of the tacks into the board a determinate distance to removably anchor the tacks on the board.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the means for advancing the plate into position in the press includes a reciprocating pusher device.

3. Apparatus for continuously packaging tacks comprising a conveyer for receiving a succession of carrying plates each having loaded thereon a plurality of tacks placed with their points outward in groups of rows, said conveyeradvancing said plates in line and in :end-to-end engagement; a :press having ram and bed members to whichisaid conveyer, leads; means advancing the plate nearest to thepress into position between the ram and bed members of thevpress; and meansmoving a board into position between the ram andbed members of the press with the board facing the points of the tacks on said carrying plate whereby closing operation of the press to bring the members thereof together forces the points of the tacks into the board a determinate distance to removablyenchor (the tacks on the board,-the carrying plate with the assembled tacks and board be- .ing ejected from the press when the press is opened, by

the next carrying plate advancing it with its array of tacks into position between the press members.

4. The invention .as defined in claim 3 in which there is means for locating the carrying plate in predetermined .prising means for automatically transporting said group oftacks to another location:Withqutdisturbing said array; means for disposing a, board broadside to said group and to the points of the tacks thereof; and force-applying means for simultaneously forcibly bringing together :said

board and the tacks to force the points of the tacks into the board a determinate distance and thereby removablyanchor the tacks in the board.

6. Apparatus for assembling :boards to tacks, comprising anelongate .plate having. spaced groups of rows of. nests in its upper surface, each nest :being adapted to hold the head of a, tack which is pointed upward, saidgroups being disposed in bothrows and columns on the plate; means for disposing a plurality of boardseach broadside to one of said groups and to the points of the tacks thereof; and force-applying means for-simultaneously forcibly bringing together .all of the boards and the tacks to force the points of the tacks intothe board a determinate distance-and thereby remoyably anchor the tacks in the boards.

7. Apparatus for assembling boards to tacks which have beenarrayed at, a givenllocation in spaced; groups of. rows with their points all facing in one direction, comprising means for automatically transporting said groups of tacks to a'second location without disturbing said array; means for disposing a plurality of boards,

each:broadside to one of said groups and to the points of the tacks thereof; and-force-applying means for simultaneously forcibly bringing together all of the boards and the tacks to force the points of the tacks into the boards a determinate distance and thereby removably anchor the tacks in the boards.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which the tacks are disposed on a succession of plates, and the transporting means includes a continuously-moving conveyer belt for carrying said plates in succession to said second location, and in which there is an abutment means located at said second location and made operative by the leading tack-carrying plate, to halt said plate and succeeding:pla tes while the latter remain on the belt and during the bringing together of the boards and tacks, the plates on the belt slipping onsaid belt when the leading plate is halted.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which there is a pusher means independent of said belt and operable when the leading plate is about to engage the abutment means, for forcibly moving and holding said plate against said abutment means.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which the force-applying means is slower-acting than said pusher means, and in whichboth said means are simultaneously automatically made operative by said leading plate upon the latter reaching substantially the said second location.

11. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which the tacks are disposed on a plate. which is transported with the tacks, in which the board-disposing means includes transfer members movable into and out of the path of the force-applying neans, and in which the force-applying means is controlled by both the board-disposing means-and said plate to enable operation of the force-applying means to occur only when the said members are out of the path of said force-applying means.

12. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which the force-applying means is automatically made operative by said leading plate upon the latter reaching substantially the said second location.

13. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which the board-disposing means includes friction carriers for said boards on the force-applying means, and in which there is astripping means for ejecting the boards from the carriers after assembly of the tacks to the boards.

14. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which the force-"applying means comprises a press having an advanceable and retractable ram, in which the board-disposing means includes transfer members advanceable into and retractable out of the path of said ram, and in which advance of the transfer members is effected in response to movement of the ram substantially to its retracted position.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14 in which there is means retracting the transfer members in response to their attaining their advanced positions.

16. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which the force-applying means comprises a press having an advanceable and retractable ram, and in which the stripping means is made operable by the ram substantially upon completion of the advancing movement thereof.

17. The invention as defined in claim 14 in which the ram 'is rendered inoperative whenever the said transfer members, are outof their retracted positions.

.18. Apparatus for assembling boards to tacks which have beenarrayed on elongate plates at a given location in spaced groups ofwrows with their points all facing in one direction, comprising a continuously-moving conveyer belt for transporting said platesvand tacks carried thereby to another location without disturbing said array; a retractable and advanceable abutment means at said other location, operable when advanced to halt said plates while the conveyer belt continues to move; a press at said other location. havingan advanceable and retractable ram, the foremost of the halted plates lying in the path of the ram;

a magazine for boards; a friction carrier on said ram, for receiving and holding a board of said magazine, said carrier being disposed broadside to said foremost halted plate; means, including an advanceable and retractable transfer member, for transferring a board from the magazine to said friction carrier When the ram is retracted; a stipper for stripping said board from the carrier; means operable by the foremost plate as it approaches said other location, advancing said abutment means; means operable by the foremost plate subsequent to advance of the abutment means, advancing said ram, thereby causing a board in the carrier of the ram to be impaled on the points of the tacks of the foremost plate; means rendering said stripper operative, and means causing retraction of the ram, in response to the ram attaining its advanced posi- 10 tion; means rendering said transfer means operative, and means retracting said abutment means, in response to the ram attaining its retracted position; and means responsive to the transfer member attaining its advanced position, for causing retraction of said member.

19. The invention as defined in claim 18 in Which there is means rendering inoperative the ram-advancing means Whenever the transfer member is out of its retracted position.

20. The invention as defined in claim 18 in which there is a pusher means operable to advance the foremost plate against the abutment means at the same time that the ram is caused to advance, said pusher means being quickeracting than said ram.

No references cited. 

